This week we wrap up our discussion of Avraham with the climax of his story…the Akeidah, the Binding of Isaac. Throughout his life, Avraham experienced 10 tests. By now, it should be no surprise that each of these tests include familiar imagery, especially that of trees and high places. As we look into this passage, what would we expect to see but the Biblical writers using the same images to tell one cohesive story. As a final test, Avraham once and for all dismantles one tree in his life. We have watched him grow in wisdom. He has passed his final test and chosen life.

This week we’re taking a break from our regularly scheduled series on Genesis. This episode is devoted to addressing our responsibility as believers in this tumultuous time. If we are called the children of God, then we no longer represent ourselves. We now bear His Name, even in times of crisis, upheaval, confusion, and tragedy. What does that mean and what does that look like? As His children, representing our Creator is our greatest responsibility.

Of course we all know the grand stories of father Abraham, but have you ever asked yourself, "Why Abram?" As we read the Biblical narrative, we know that we are expecting a seed that will undo what was done in Gan Eden and restore us to the Ets Chaim. Out of the chaos of the Tower of Babel, a man named Abram is called to partner with God, to represent Him to the world, to bring His blessing on humanity, to be a new Adam. But why Abram? Tucked away in a small segment of a genealogy we have a fascinating clue.

 

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In this week’s episode, we continue our walk through the flood narrative and the story of Noah. Noah’s story is full of Eden imagery, including chaotic water, trees, mountain tops, and priestly functions. The Flood narrative is not a story of cosmic destruction by the hands of a blood thirsty God. Rather, it is the beautiful recreation & reordering of God’s sacred space, where He chooses to dwell with His creation. Is Noah the promised seed of Adam & Chavah that will crush the serpent’s head? Is Noah the one who will bring the full blessing of the Kingdom of God to the earth and restore Eden? Let’s find out together!

This week, Kyle and Joe wrap up their three week discussion on the theme of exile and hope in the Biblical narrative. We are devoting this episode to exile language in the Gospels. Over the last couple of weeks, we have developed an “exile vocabulary” that will enable to read the words of Yeshua Messiah on a whole new level. Yeshua’s words and interactions throughout the Gospels are not haphazard, but are very specific and full of purpose as He harkens back to the words of the Nevi’im (Prophets) and begins the restoration back from exile.

In the last couple of episodes, we have begun to dig into the theme of exile in Scripture. For the next three weeks, I have the privilege of having my good friend, Kyle Sylvest with me as we further discuss what exile looks like and why it’s important to the Biblical narrative.

As we continue our journey through the beginning chapters of Genesis, we come to the climax of the Garden narrative. Adam and Eve are banished from the Tree of Life and sent away as a result of their disobedience and disloyalty to HaShem’s instructions. Today, we’re going to begin looking at the over-arching theme of exile that begins here in the opening chapters of the Scriptures.

As we move through the first few chapters of Genesis, we find ourselves suddenly confronted with "the serpent" in chapter 3. The serpent has no introduction or back story, it simply shows up. Although there are many opinions as to who or what the serpent was, we may find it profitable to ask what the initial and ancient hearers may have understood it to be. Join the conversation as we discuss the serpent...a talking snake or something else?

What is the message of Genesis 2 and the creation of Adam? Is the creation of Adam & Chavah a re-telling of Day 6 of Creation? Were Adam & Chavah the first human beings? In this episode, we will begin to talk through some of these questions and propose some unique but fitting explanations for your consideration.

Welcome back to IBR. We certainly hope you are enjoying the show so far because we are only getting started. In this episode, we will walk through the first 6 days of creation to see just what is being communicated. We will also see how all of the wonder creation is being attributed to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.